The Paradise King stood at the edge of the water, the hissing waves lapping at his feathered legs. The cool ocean breeze washed over the sabino stallion, bringing a wave of tranquility as he let out a contented sigh. Much had changed in the past few weeks, and he embraced this new chapter. With each passing day, fresh faces appeared in Paradise—some were old friends from years past, while others were still unknown to him.

His daydreaming was interrupted by movement further along the shoreline, where he recognized a familiar figure emerging from the surf and stepping onto the warm sand. Skogsra? He took a tentative step forward, then another, before breaking into a quick trot. He slowed as Carthage approached from the jungle to join her.

As the distance between them disappeared, he could already sense his sister's delight at the opportunity to tease Carthage over his earlier comments, but that could wait. “Skogsra,” he murmured, gently wrapping his neck around her shoulders. Her scent was warm and reminiscent of sunbaked desert sands. He closed his eyes for a moment before pulling back to meet her brilliant gaze. “What brings you to Paradise?” he asked, tilting his head slightly, curiosity glittering in his expression.

“Are you okay?” he inquired, feeling a surge of anger begin to bubble within him. His ice-blue eyes flicked behind her, his body tensing in readiness to defend her if necessary.